Week zero 2026 non-power

 These 3 games intrigue me the most for Week Zero non-power teams

Sac St travels to EMU for its first MAC conference game.

North Dakota St(MWC) host  Jax St(CUSA)

Memphis flies to Vegas to face UNLV. Is Jackson Arnold, former Oklahoma and Auburn QB, the answer for the Rebels. 

July 1, 2026

Wondering who the Sac St starting QB will be?  Carson Conklin, a transfer from Fresno State,and Jackson Sharman, a transfer from Idaho State, are competing to be the starting quarterback.

July 11, 2026

Nathan Hayes will likely be the Bison starting QB in its home opener vs Jax St. NDSU has a lot of traveling this season including an MWC game at Hawaii on 11/14

July 15, 2026

MWC Media days: Pre-season  pick for Special Teams PoY WR Jackson Williams (NDSU). 🤔  First Bison season in a 1A conference,

 Rob Harley , NIU interim HC, got the job when HC Thomas Hammock became the Seattle Seahawks RB coach in February.

I forgot about this.

July 17, 2026

In 2025, Nick Minicucci, Delaware QB, led CUSA in passing yards (3,683) and was second team CUSA. He'll be Arlington TX for Media Day on July 20. Nice to see the kid return  for 2026

July 18, 2026

UTSA HC Jeff Traylor hired Rick Bowie from WKU to call the offensive signals for QB Owen McCown. Worth keeping an eye on! 

July 19, 2026

Noah Kim (QB,EMU), the MAC's leading passer last season has two solid targets, Nick Devereaux and Joshua Long, for the Eagles bid to surprise some opponents this season.

July 20, 2026

Clay Helton has been decent (27-25)at GASO since 2021. Does he turn the corner and get the Eagles in the SBC title race. Max Johnson, a much traveled QB, is their likely starter

Bynum and Tyson are their top players on D.

They have tough OOC games: at Clemson and hosting Houston.

Kind of wondering what's happened that Evan Crenshaw(Troy) pre-season pick for SBC best punter started his career at CCU.

July 23, 2026

AAC Media Day today: USF hosts FIU in its season opener. Van Buren (who transferred from LSU) has the edge due to better mobility in his battle with Kromenhoek (from Mississippi State) for the starting QB spot vacated by Byrum Brown(who transferred to Auburn). 

Hartline's staff hinted they may use both QBs in the right situation.

July 25, 2026

UNLV hosting this year and the return game is set for Memphis in 2029. Stokes is slightly ahead of Air Noland on the Memphis QB depth chart

July 27, 2026

Casey Woods, former SMU OC, is the MOSU HC.  Locklear from UTEP and Belin IV from Duke are vying to be the starting QB. WKU is Bears first CUSA opponent. September OOC schedule includes TAMU, SMU, and Marshall.

July 29, 2026

Rainbows open at Stanford and QB Alejado will be working with  new wideouts since Jackson Harris and Brandon White transferred. Tre Griffiths, a transfer from OK St to Hawaii, may help fill that void.

Some folks think Hawaii can finish second in the MWC

Non power team that may advance toward Omaha.

Southern Miss is one of the 16 regional host. UVA , Ark-LR , and  Jacksonville St are in the Hattiesburg, MS bracket. Jax St  was awesome in the CUSAT  and looks strong going into this regional

They didn't have many power conference opponents They beat AUB, lost to Bama, and lost 2 of 3 to Cincy.

Cooper Blauser led  the Gamecocks with 53 RBI.
I'm not ignoring the host but Jax St is the hottest team in this bracket.

ECU got hot in the AAC tournament and opens with the Vols in Chapel Hill. Herring knocked in 51 runs for the Pirates this season.

May 30 2026

I caught some of the ECU game. The Pirates bunted home run 3 in the 13th inning, then the Vols tied it at 3.. In the 14th inning ECU outscored them 4-0 for the 7-3 win

Other games. SMS(WCC) beat UCLA. Milwaukee(Horizon) beat AUB. South Carolina Upstate beat OK St. 

Little Rock beat USM. Jax St beat USC. TX ST beat USC

Not sure if it a big upset but Tarleton (WAC) beat UCSB.

May 31, 2026

Tennessee, USM, Alabama State, Yale, Lamar, South Dakota State, Rider, UIC, Missouri State, The Citadel, and Virginia Tech

ECU Friday)  then UNC (yesterday) knocked the Vols out in Chapel Hill. ECU  lost to UNC yesterday. ECU plays VCU today

Ark-LR & Jax St provide the 1-2 punch to USM , the host of Hattiesburg Regional.  Baumbach knocked in the 3 runs for Ark-LR in a W over Jax St

Northeastern eliminated  MOSU

June 1, 2026

ECU is going home . UNC was too much for them

Wow. Little Rock comes out  of Hattiesburg. Brody Bunting  pitched 3.1  strong innings to save the the Trojans against Jax St

Liberty stopped by Georgia

SMC beat UCLA then falls to Cal Poly

Troy remains alive in the Gainesville bracket

Milwaukee needs to beat AUB and St Johns need to beat FSU

June 2, 2026

MIL eliminated by AUB, but Troy beat FLA ,and the Johnies beat Florida St. Boroff (2B, HR, 5 RBI) for Troy.

Late to this story: On June 2, 2026, Steve Bieser left Jax St for the head baseball coach  job at Grand Canyon University(MWC). 💰

June 6, 2026

Cal Poly fell to WVU and  Ark -LR lost to Troy. Same score for each game (12-2). Jabe Boroff knocked in 6 runs for Troy.

June 7, 2026

Cal Poly eliminated by WVU, and Ark-LR eliminated by Troy(SBC), who will make its first visit to the CWS. Tommy Egan 7.1 IP 8 k for the Trojans yesterday.

Also, the Johnnies lost game 1 to Bama.

June 9, 2026

Will Davis: 10 yrs., 283-231 (.551) at Lamar(Southland).  He took the Houston Cougars HC job.

June 10, 2026

Kevin Schnall brings Matt Williams over with him from CCU  to serve as the Gamecocks(SEC) pitching coach. Big intrastate move in South Carolina

Schnall had a solid two season managing the Chanticleers. 2024-26.

June 12, 2026

Chris Lemonis is the HC of the CCU baseball team. He grew up in Myrtle Beach.. He was the MIss St HC(2019- 2025) 

June 13, 2026

Troy made two errors ,and WVU played effective small ball. WVU 7 Troy 5.  Trojans face Ole Miss in the loser bracket Sunday

June 15, 2026

Wow, Troy has good 7th and 8th innings to beat Ole Miss 12-8. Sam Darnell knocked in four runs for the Trojans.in the game.

Ole Miss is out

June 17, 2026

Three WV pitchers tossed a four hit shutout  to eliminate Troy from the CWS. Also, WV stole 7 bases in a 12-0 win. They play UNC today.

June 18, 2026

Liam Bowen travels around the beltway(695) moving from UMBC(AmericaEast) to Towson(CAA). I can't imagine the $$$ are a whole lot more. CAA is a better baseball conference.

June 19, 2026

Pedro Grifol was named the head coach of FIU(CUSA). He spent a lot of years as a coach. in the KC organization, His stint as MGR of the White Sox (2023-24) was not a good one(89-190)

He was raised in Miami, FLA.

June 26, 2026

Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina  CCU, and Jackson Flora, RHP, UCSB are each expected to be selected  by pick 20 in the upcoming MLB draft

July 2, 2026

Some chatter on Ben Blair, a RHP for Liberty with  three-quarters slot delivery and solid control, may go in rd2

July 12, 2026

Caden Bogenpohl(CF)  was drafted by the Phillies in RD2(64th overall) . He broke Ryan Howard's freshman, Missouri St home run record with 20 in 2024.

July 13, 2026

Ethan Norby, an LHP from ECU, went in rd4 to the Reds. Maybe it was the 4.08 ERA that decreased his draft value

July 26, 2026

I missed this one.

Pick 248 overall Yankees: Luke Pettitte, TWP, Dallas Baptist

Theydrafted his dad, Andy Pettite, in the 22nd round in 1990 

Non power hoops, it's mid February

 Enis scored 27 for first place USF(AAC) who needed OT to get by FAU.

Wells scored 19 for RMU(HOR) in a win over OAK. Fourth straight win for the Colonials.

Smiley scored 21 for first place BEL(MVC) in a win over MUR.

Feb 17, 2026

Fricks scored 27 for the Herd in a win over USA that places them in a 3 way tie for second with Troy and USA behind first place Appy.

Coppin St edged SCSU in MEAC action for its third straight win.

Feb 18, 2026

MOH beat UMass but Akron beat WMU to remain 1GB.

Henley scored 21 for GC in a big MWC win over the Aztecs.

Feb 19, 2026

ASUN: C. Ark has won 10 straight to move within a game of APU. Last night QUE beat UNA to move into third.

T. Moore scored 27 for WKU(CUSA, 3rd) in an OT win over DEL.

Feb 20, 2026

J. King scored 24 pts for UMBC in a win over VER, that puts them atop the AM.East

Marshall knocked off APPYwith a strong second half and moved into a tie for first with Troy in the SBC. Speer scored 24 for the Herd

Feb 21, 2026

Horizon: Nadeau scoreed 25 for DET in a W over MILW . Titans is a hot team that's within a half game of second place GB who beat OAK last night

Feb 22, 2026

Three teams are 11-5  atop the Big West . HAW, beat UCSB.  UCI, lost to UCSD. and CSN beat LBSU.

HIgh Point(14-1, Big South) beat Winthrop for it 10th straight W

Feb 23, 2026

Horizon: Lovejoy scored 33 for DET in a W over GB to move into a tie for 2nd with RMU and OAK, 2GB of WRST.

In the AAC, MEM' descent continues. UAB beat them yesterday.

Feb 24, 2026

C. Benson scored 30 for the Privateers in an upset of SFA, which allowed McNeese, a winner over UTRGV, to move within a game of SFA in Southland action.

Feb 25, 2026

MOH and Akron won and remain 1/2. in The MAC 

L'Etang (26PTS10REB3BLK) for  DAY in an A10 upset of SLU.

 Fricks led the Herd to a win over ODU, Troy beat ULL. They are tied with Appy atop the SBC

Feb 26, 2026

WCC- Zags and  SMC made it clear last night they are still the class of the conference. Zags beat POR by 41. M. Lewis  scored 27 for SMC(15-2) in a W over Santa Clara(14-3). 

Broncos finish the regular season against the Beavers. SMC faces the Zags.

Feb 27, 2026

Hawaii and UCI each won to remain tied atop the Big West

RJ Johnson scored 25 for KENN in an upset of LIB. I can see the Flames getting upset in the CUSAT

Feb 28, 2026

Finally a MOH game on CBSSN, and I was underwhelmed. Coach Steele lost his composure a few too many times. Atlason (16pts) was solid for MOH in a comeback win over WMU.

Akron rolled Kent St on ESPN and looks like the better team now T. Johnson(22PTS6REB7AST) for the Zips.

 Appy and the Herd lost, allowing Troy, a winner over ULL to sit alone atop the SBC.

T. Dowd(TROY 22PTS11REB)

March 1, 2026

VCU beat FORD to stay 1GB of SLU in the A10

SMC took care of the Zags leaving them tied atop the WCC. M. Lewis scored 31 for the Gaels Zags get  # 1 seed via tiebreaker (2-0 vs. Santa Clara)

March 2, 2026

K.Giles scored 28 for WICH in a W over UTSA. USF won and has a two game lead in the loss column over WICH and Tulsa.

WICH has one game left. USF & Tulsa each have two games left

Tulsa crushed Tulane.

Wonder if the penny drops on Coach Hardaway.  MEM fell to 7-9 in AAC play. It wasn't that long ago that the PAC 12 was wooing the Tigers.

March 3, 2026

Portland State finished first in the Big Sky with a win over Weber. Jaylin Henderson  (20 points and 10 assists) for the Wildcats. Sac St  made it to an 8 seed  with a win over Idaho St.  

Sac St: Football headed to the MAC in 2026. All other sports to the Big West in 2026

Exit from Big Sky is effective June 30, 2026

March 4, 2026

UNLV clobbered USU 92-65. SDSU didn't take advantage of it losing to BSU, led by D. Fielder(33PTS 9REB). UNM is .5gb of USU in the MWC.

MOH and Akron keep winning in the MAC

July 28, 2026

Robbie Avila was decent college player and was signed by LAL(NBA) after the draft,  but one of his nicknames, Milk Chamberlain, is goofy?  He's a better FT shooter  than Wilt and that's it.

Week 14 is it Navy blue

 WMU will finish the regular season with a narrow road win over EMU to finish atop the MAC. Broncos will contain N. Kim who has tossed for 16TDs and 2490 yards for the Eagles. WMU 20 EMU 19

AAC: Navy is in a three way tie with TUL and NTX for first place and visits Memphis. B. Lewis will get his passing skills back into gear. MEM 28 Navy 24.

other three picks later this week.

Nov 26, 2025

N. Kim got his usual numbers for EMU, but Lowry and McMillan rushed for 203 yards for WMU. WMU 31- EMU 21. Broncos finish with best conference record in the MAC.

Nov 28, 2025

Navy was trailing 17-14 and fumbled away a scoring chance near the goal line  in the 3Q  Memphis went nowhere  after its recovery ,and Navy went on to outscore the Tigers 14-0 in the second half for a 28-17 W. I was wrong on this one and am  1-1 so far.

CUSA: WKU needs to beat Jax St to stay on pace with KENN. Tisdale will toss 2 TD passes  for the Tops win .  WKU 24 JAX 17

MWC: SDSU D has re-grouped since the blowout loss to HAW. Lobos are hot. and are at home for this  game.  UNM 24  SDSU 23

SBC: Troy 20 USM 17.  Goose Crowder is back for the Trojans. He'll be the difference for Troy to win the SBCW.

Nov 29, 2025

Up to 2-1. UNM 23 SDSU 17. Laubstein,  the backup UNM QB rushed for 70yards, 40 on a TD run in the 1Q.  Layne the starting QB , tossed the winning TD pass.

If UNLV wins today it's a four way tie for for 1st place and UNLV did not play SDSU  and lost to BSU and UNM.   Metrics will likely make it BSU/UNM

Nov 30, 2025

Wrong on the Tops, correct on Troy.  3-2 for the weekend

Some big stats in the KENN OT win over LIB.

E. Dickens 43 CAR 267 YDS, 4 TD for the Flames

A. Odom(KENN) 14/23, 240 YDS, 4 TD,  13 CAR 72YDS, TD

Random memos . I'm  impressed TXST became bowl eligible, JAX St didn't miss a beat losing Rich Rod to WV. Charles Kelly  has them in the CUSA title game against KENN.

Mixws bag week 3 O5 picks

 MEM 20 Troy 19 : Troy gave Clemson a scare, but Memphis has enough O to survive.

Appy 27 USM 23:  Swann outduels Braxton

BUFF 28 Kent St 19: Roberson tosses 2 TD passes for the Bulls

USU 23 AFA 17: Barner , USU QB, has a solid game for the Ags.

FIU 16 FAU 13:  Tough guess at Pitbull. FIU ekes it out at home

Sept 14, 2025

Memphis 28- Troy 7:  SSmith 113yds , 2TDs rushing for the Tigers in the W.

USM 38 APPY 22:- Only wrong pick Braxton tossed two TDs for USM.

BUFF 31 Kent St 28 : Nip and tuck the entire

USU 49 AFA 30: B. Barnes passed for 17/22, 287 YDS, 2 TD for the Ags

FIU 38 FAU 28: Owens 19 CAR 173 YDS, 2 TD for FIU

Big surprises: The size of NTX blowout  of Wazoo and UNM blowout of UCLA.

Slightly surprised that DEL(CUSA) edged UConn.

Sept 15, 2025

Random  MAC thoughts. Toledo  has a decent D. Ohio beat West Virginia, BGSU is getting most of the hype as MAC conference play starts this weekend

Rest of O5 bowl picks

 I continue to circle the drain with Bowl Mania picks and am as bad with O5 as with Power 5 picks but here goes.

Iowa State(Big 12) vs. Memphis(AAC) | Liberty Bowl |  Memphis has decent offense, but it may not excel against the Cyclones . ISU 27 MEM 17

No. 23 Liberty(CUSA) vs. No. 8 Oregon(PAC12) | Fiesta Bowl |  Flames will stay it in for three quarters until they flicker out. and can't contain Bo Nix.  Quentin Cooley may reach 100 yards rushing for LU. Oregon 41 LU 27

Wyoming(MWC) vs. Toledo(MAC) | Arizona Bowl |  Cowboys have been erratic. I'll ride with the Rockets. Toledo 31 WYO 24 

Dec 30 2023

Wrong on this one. Iowa St never recovered from going down 19-0 early and lost to Memphis 36-26. 

Both QBs put on a show. MEM S. Henigan 24-34, 364 YDS, 4 TD,

ISU: R. Becht 22-38, 446 YDS, 3 TD

Dec 31,2023

Well, I picked Toledo, but nice way for Bohl, the Wyoming HC, to retire. Glad CW televised it. No time on the clock as the Cowboys hit the game winning FG fora 16-15 win.

Jan 2, 2023

No surprise Oregon rolled LU yesterday. They kept it close in the first half. I t was cool to hear the story of a Flames' lineman who worked hard to rehab from an injury and play in the game. One of the announcers voiced surprise that the kid chose to use his eligibility to play. The other announcer reminded him- it's an NY6 game. I've searched and can't find his name.

Jan 9, 2024

Frank Solich Named to College Football Hall of Fame. Props to him.

22 seasons as a head coach, record of 173-101. 58-19 record in six seasons as Nebraska's head coach from 1998 to 2003. 115 wins as the head coach at Ohio University(MAC).

April 19, 2024

Scouts watched some MAC games. These two getting some notice for rd1 or 2: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo, Marshawn Kneeland Edge W Michigan

rd3 possibles: Malachi Corley WKU WR, Michael Pratt Tulane QB, Luke McCaffrey Rice WR

Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy (6-1, 246) may sneak into rd3 of NFL draft.

April 25, 2024

Maybe my Saints reach for X'ZAUVEA GADLIN OT from Liberty U in rd6 or 7.

April 26, 2024

At least Philly scouts watched more than P5 games. 22.Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo(MAC)

Luke McCaffrey(Rice-AAC) WR goes to Skins to end rd3. No surprises for non P5 kids.

Corley went to the Jets. Kneeland to the Cowboys . And a Yale kid went to the Chicago Bears: Kiran Amegadjie, OT.

April 28, 2024

#herd:  Ravens got RB Ali in rd5, and Colts got Micah Abraham, CB in rd6. Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP rd5 to Seattle. Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane went to Packers in rd7.

April 30, 2024

UDFA QB signings: Reed (WKU) to Bears. SJSU Chevan Cordeiro to Seahawks. UTEP QB Gavin Hardison to Dolphins. Troy QB Gunnar Watson to Bills.

I see Rocky Lombardi, NIU signed with the Bengals. He was a Sparty starting QB. Also, Bengals signed Tulane CB Lane Robinson. 

Jax signed UTSA WR Joshua Cephus, first team all Conference-American. Surprised he went undrafted.

June 16, 2024

Broncos RB Blake Watson, a UDFA RB from Memphis U, could win the "Kamara" role in  Sean Payton’s offense.

Not sure why Colorado State(MWC) TE Dallin Holker wasn't drafted, but my Saints are glad to have him  in camp.

 Buccaneers are pleased with UDFA CB, Tyrek Funderburk (Appalachian State)

Aug 2, 2024

CB Reddy Steward ,a UDFA from Troy U, has a good shot of making the Chicago Bears final roster.

O5 Bowl Games Saturday Dec 23

Arkansas State Red Wolves(SBC) vs Northern Illinois Huskies(MAC) Can you say erratic.? Ark St 28 NIU 27

Troy(SBC) vs Duke (ACC) Both teams head coaches have moved on. I'll take Troy in a 24-23 upset.

 Georgia St(SBC) vs Utah St(MWC). Georgis St hasn't won since October and that won't change. Utah St 23 GAST 16

James Madison(SBC) vs Air Force(MWC) McCloud, the JMU QB, will play despite entering the transfer portal. .JMU 30 AFA 22

South Alabama(SBC) vs Eastern Michigan(MAC). EMU doesn't have enough O. South Bama 20 EMU 13

Coastal Carolina(SBC) vs San Jose State(MWC). Ok, I'll ride with Cordero and the hot SJST Spartans

Dec 24, 2023 

1-5 yesterday.  South Bama pummeled EMU 59-10J. Pritchett WR - USA 8REC 127YDS 2TD

Now for my incorrect picks: Duke stymied Troy's O. NIU kicker scored a TD. 

F. Brock RB - GAST 24CAR 276YDS 1TD

E. Michel FB - AFA 35CAR 203YDS 2TD

Vasko tossed 3 TD passes for CCU.

Feb 15, 2024

Georgia State postponed the rest of its spring practices and its spring game on March 7. Panthers started spring practice on Tuesday Feb 13,  two days before coach Shawn Elliott stepped down to become an assistant at South Carolina. Flip side of the NIL portal!

Feb 24. 2024

Dell McGee  is the new G ST HC 

Auburn (2013) Analyst

Georgia Southern (2014) RB coach

Georgia Southern (2015)

Assistant HC & RB coach

Georgia Southern (2015)

Interim head coach

Georgia (2016–2018)

Assistant HC & running backs coach

Georgia (2019–2023)

Run game coordinator & RB coach

Georgia State (2024)Head coach

O5 pigskin title games 2023

 CUSA: A close one that will come down to the running game. Liberty will win at home. LIB 24 NMSU 21

NMSU: D. Pavia (153 CAR, 806 YDS, 5 TD)

LIB: Q. Cooley (202 CAR, 1251 YDS, 13 TD)

AAC: Tulane's D will do enough to slow down SMU's big O. TUL 27 SMU 24

MAC:  Little Miami doesn't have an answer for D Finn, Toledo's QB.  Toledo 34 Miami(OH) 27

MWC: I'll stick with the Rebels. R. White WR - UNLV (75REC 1300 YDS 7TD). UNLV 35 Boise 31

Sunbelt: Both teams have on a roll. Both QBs, Aguilar(APP) and Watson(Troy), each threw for over 3K yards for this season. APP 38 Troy 35

Dec 2, 2023

LIB: 49 NMSU 35: Pavia , Ags QB, left the game banged up in the 3Q. 

Liberty QB K. Salter Passing: 319YDS 2TD.  Rushing 12CAR 165YDS 1TD. Undefeated Flames have a shot at a New Year's day bowl if Tulane loses today.

Dec 3, 2023

I was correct on the first game but wrong on the other four games. SMU, Miami(oh), Boise St, and Troy won.

Little Miami did a great job of containing Finn.

How about these fellas:

K. Vidal RB - TROY U- 26CAR 233YDS 5TD

A. JeantyRB - BOISE ST -21CAR 153YDS 1TD

Dec 4, 2023

Fritz leaves Tulane for Houston(Big12)

Boist St elevates Danielson from interim HC to HC. He did  helluva job replacing Avalos mid -season.

Go Flames ! Liberty plays Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan 1

Dec 6: Former Vandy coach Derek Mason will be new coach at MTSU. He was most recently the DC at Oklahoma State in 2022.

New Mexico hires Bronco Mendenhall to be HC: He was an Asst there a long time ago. Solid hire

Feb 27, 2024

Former Boise State coach Dirk Koetter will be BSU's new offensive coordinator, 

He was HC previously w/Tampa Bay Bucs & Arizona State

Oct 24, 2025

K Vidal,  had a good night in the Chargers win over the Vikes last night.  Chargers took him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Non-P6 hoops-it's that time of year.

 Procrastination on doing a blog ends with Davidson(A10) knocking off my Terps(B10). Troy(SBC) took Oregon St to OT before falling 81-80, while Marshall (SBC) falls to Radford(Big South). Bryan Antoine converted a four-point play with 1.5 seconds left for Radford in the win over # herd.

Monmouth(CAA) beat WVU(B12)

Interesting action in the MAC/SBC: Coach Groce's Zips beat USM. Akron 72 USM 54

And for my Mewe buddy Arkrazor:  Cal Baptist(WAC) 80 Jackson St(SWAC) 66. Daniels Jr scored 25 for the winners.

This was a good one in the MAC/SBC challenge: Ball St 73 ODU 68 

 C. Jenkins G - ODU 20PTS 6REB

J. Anderson G - BALL 29PTS 9REB

UAB(AAC) beat my Terps.

Nov 21, 2023

Checking back in: UNLV(MWC) gave Florida St(ACC) a scare before losing 83-75. D Thomas Jr of the Rebels is a fun player to watch.

St Josephs(A10)  took Kentucky(SEC) to OT but fell 96-88.

SMU(AAC) beat West Virginia(B12) 70-58 .  Mustangs need to use this season to get ready for ACC hoops next season.

Nov 25, 2023

FAU(AAC) beat TAMU(SEC) yesterday and is off to a 4-1 start coming off last season's Final Four appearance. The loss was to Bryant of the American East conference.

Marshall(SBC) is off to a bumpy 2-4 start including getting pasted by Kentucky(SEC) 118-82 yesterday

Nov 30, 2023

Bowlsby, former Big 12 Commish, will be the interim AD at Northern Iowa replacing David Harris, who left to become the athletic director at Tulane.

Northern Iowa(MVC) is 2-5 this season but they beat Stanford.

Tulane is 5-1. Its only loss was to Bradley(MVC).

How about St Joseph's(A10) beating Nova(Big East). Erik Reynolds II scored 24 points in a road win. 

Dec 5, 2023

Catching up: UNCW(CAA) coach Takayo Siddle steered his team to an 80-73 upset of No. 12 Kentucky(SEC) on Saturday. In 2007 he scored eight points for Gardner Webb in an upset of UK in Rupp Arena.

Appy(SBC) beat Auburn(SEC)

T. Joseph(27PTS 6REB 3STL) for Southern(SWAC) in an upset of Miss St(SEC)

SEC stumbled against non -power 6.

Dec 7, 2023

Big home win for Towson U(CAA).  C. May G 27 PTS, 7 REB in 81-71 win over UMass(A10). Tigers keeps getting better after starting the season losing to Wake Forest, North Texas, and S Dakota St. Towson U is just north of Baltimore City.

UIC(MVC) 55 Jax St(CUSA) 49 Illinois-Chicago is having a decent OOC start. JaxSt could have a bumpy ride in CUSA hoops.

Dec 13, 2023

Sam Houston St(CUSA) edged ULM(SBC) 63-62. Great football debut in 1A, and now their hoops are doing ok. The last time SHS went to the Dance was in 2010 as the Southland champ.

Cal Baptist(WAC)lost 76-55 at Oregon 

Dec 14, 2023

Headed toward conference play. FAU(AAC) has kept in stride after its F4 appearance in the spring. Loss to Illinois. Wins over VTech and TAMU. Now if they beat Zona Dec 23.....

GW(A10) intrigues me at 9-2, the losses were to South Carolina and UIC. They haven't been good in a while so maybe the record is a false positive. James Bishop IV leads the team with 16.9 PPG.

Dec 16, 2023

Zags got more work to do. UConn 76 Gonz 63. In other WCC OOC play San Diego Toreros beat Portland St(Big Sky). SD beat Ariz St (Pac12) a few days ago.

Week 5 in the O5

 CUSA: Battle of QBs: Reed (WKU) outduels Vattiato(MTSU) in a close one. WKU 34 MTSU 31

I'll take Henigan at home to lead Memphis(AAC) to a 27-24 win over Boise St(MWC).

MACaction: CMU is coming off a big win over South Bama but will struggle to eke out a 16-13 win over EMU.

SunBelt: Coach Elliot has GA St off to a 4-1 start. M.Carroll will rush for over 100 in a win 30-20 win over Troy.

Sept 29, 2023

 I was correct on WKU who won 31-10. Reed threw for 297 yards and 2 TDs.

Jax St beat SHS and are 2-0 in CUSA action.

Oct 1, 2023

I was correct on Memphis and CMU and wrong big time on GA St who lost 28-7. Henigan, the Memphis QB, led them to a comeback win.

Some interesting stats: Marshall won over ODU despite allowing K. Calloway11CAR 236YDS 3TD.

T. Stewart.,RB - BGSU(MAC), 26CAR 138YDS 1TD in 38-21 upset of GTech(ACC)

In the MWC, UNLV rush for 307 yards in a win over Hawaii and is 4-1 for the season. 

Surprises on the way to the CWS

 Samford beat S.Miss. Rider beat CCU. 

Oklahoma schools having a tough time: Oral Roberts beat OK ST. E. Carolina beat OK.

 Troy beat BC.

 Penn beat Auburn. Penn's bullpen combined for 5.2 innings while allowing just one earned run in a 6-3 win that lasted 11 innings.

It's double elimination.  One of these two teams gets eliminated today. WV(Big 12), who lost to Indiana, faces Ball St (MAC), who lost to Kentucky.

June 3 Game time

Miguel Santos: 3 HR, 9 RBI in DBap's rout and elimination of Oklahoma State . 

 Auburn is done via  a 7-2 loss to USM. OK crushed Army to stay alive.

In more elimination games WV beat Ball St., UNC beat Wright St, ULL beat Maine, Cal-St-Fullerton beat San Jose St, and how about Santa Clara over Zona.

In a non -elimination game MD lost to Wake Forest 21-6. It still irks me losing to a Tobacco Road team. ACC memories don't go away.

June 4 2023

Oral Roberts beat DBAP to move on. USM has to beat Penn. CCU has to beat Duke . 

George Mason, near the Pentagon, finished off my Terps, then turned around and lost to Wake Forest.

June 6, 2023

I wonder if we'll see Larry Bird at the Indiana St/TCU series.

I have friends near Hattiesburg so I'll keep an eye on the farewell tour of longtime USM coach Scott Berry. USM/Tenn. 

Matt Hogan has 17HR, 65RBI for ORU who faces Oregon.

June 8, 2023

Indiana St @ TCU: Sycamores lost home field due to a Special Olympics event. Sears leads ISU with 19HR.

ORU @ Oregon: Ducks will need these guys healthy. Center fielder Colby Shade (wrist) and starting pitchers Jace Stoffal (finger) and Isaac Ayon (right arm)

Tenn @ S.Miss: Lot of focus on Tanner Hall, USM pitcher.

June 10, 2023

Hogan homered for ORU early, and they jumped out to a 8-0 lead, but the Ducks crept back for a 9-8 win. TCU beat Indiana St 4-1.

June 11, 2023

S.Miss is up 4-0 in suspended game1 with the Vols. 

Yep, nice two run single by Quinn kept ORU alive. 

TCU chopped down the Sycamores 6-4 to move onward. ISU out-hit TCU 10-6.

June 12, 2023

Vols rocked Tanner Hall(USM) in GM 2 to even that series.

ORU is the lowest seed to reach the MCWS since Stony Brook in 2012. ORU sure can hit the ball. They 'll face TCU in the battle of Christians.

Well, we're down to just ORU as far non power conference teams. Vols blanked USM 5-0 yesterday to head to Omaha. SEC(3) ,ACC(2), Big12, Pac12, and Summit each with one in the CWS. 

Tide steals Terps head coach Vaughn.

June 15, 2023

ORU, UVA, Wake, LSU are my picks. I'm rooting for ORU but am aware that its pitching is suspect. ACC has been a solid baseball conference for a long time.

June 16, 2023

Got in from work in time to catch Denton, ORU's closer, make folks nervous in the bottom of the ninth, but he held on to a 6-5 win over TCU. Brothers hit a three run homer for ORU  in a four run top of the ninth.

June 18, 2023

ORU faces FLA today and  will need plenty of offense to beat the Gators.

TCU /VA: Loser is eliminated.

June 19, 2023

TCU eliminated UVA. FLA scored five runs on five hits in a 5-4 win over ORU. Three of the five Gators' hit were home runs. 

Hogan hit an inside the park homer for the Golden Eagles.

June 20, 2023

Vols roared back to eliminate Stanford. Wake edged LSU and faces Tenn today in an elimination game.

ORU plays TCU in an elimination game today.

June 21, 2023

Bye, bye ORU. TCU never looked back in a 6-1 win yesterday. LSU eliminated Tenn and faces FLA next. LSU plays Wake. I'll root for TCU now to win it all.

off-season: Memphis(AAC) and Akron(MAC) are searching for new head coaches, and so is Cincy who's moving to the Big 12.

June 30, 2023

A few of the non-P5 guys on the Team USA roster who will play in a pair of five-game series with Chinese Taipei and Japan from June 30-July 12 at various sites across the Carolinas. 

Matt Ager; RHP; Pleasanton, Calif.; UC Santa Barbara

 Trey Yesavage; RHP; Boyertown, Pa.; East Carolina

July 6, 2023

Plenty of P5 guys and few High school kids showing up in mock drafts, but I found one non-P5 kid getting props. 18. Brewers: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon(WAC). His dad Jack played for the Pirates in the MLB. 

MLB draft: July 9-11

July 10, 2023

In rd1 Wilson went to the A's at 6. Nolan Schanuel, 1B, FAU went to the Angels at 11. He batted .444.

 Morehead State(OVC) first baseman Jackson Feltner was picked 235th by the DBacks, and Patrick Copen(Marshall) was selected by the  Dodgers with 220th pick(round7) 

July 11, 2023

Ok, too many players taken in the baseball draft to breakdown by conference. Sunbelt had its fair share. Also, a nod to ORU, the 2023 Cinderella, who had three kids drafted: Outfielder Jonah Cox, was drafted 166th overall by the Athletics. Star closer Cade Denton went just six picks later at 172nd overall to the Rockies. Left-handed pitcher Jacob Widener went 259th overall to the Royals.

July 12, 2023

Orioles watched the non p5

- -

4 118 BAL Levi Wells 21 P Texas State $563,600 - -

5 154 BAL Jake Cunningham 21 OF North Carolina-Charlotte $396,700 - -

6 181 BAL Jacob Cravey 21 P Samford University $312,300 - -

7 211 BAL Teddy Sharkey 21 P Coastal Carolina $244,400 - -

8 241 BAL Braxton Bragg 22 P Dallas Baptist $197,800 - -

9 271 BAL Zach Fruit 23 P Troy University $177,100 - -

10 301 BAL Matthew Etzel 21 OF Southern Mississippi $167,000 - -

11 331 BAL Nestor German 21 P Seattle $125,000 - -

Dec 17- 18 Bowl Games O5

 Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl: UAB 20 vs. Miami (Ohio) 16:  Blazers recover from a sub-par season

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl: UTSA 31 vs. Troy 27: I know Troy has a solid D  and UTSA starts some games slowly, but Frank Harris is a beast and will lead the Roadrunners to the W.

Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati 22 vs. Louisville 21 in the land of Ted Williams and Yaz.

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel: Washington State 28 vs. Fresno State 20: Bulldogs don't have enough bark to handle Wazoo who was hot early in Pac 12 play this season.

LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss 24 vs. Rice 17:  Can Rice's O get steamed up? Not so sure?

Dec 13, 2022

In O5 news, I'm a bit surprised that CCU(SunBelt) QB Mccall entered the transfer portal. Maybe the HC taking the Liberty job played a role. 

Navy(AAC) fired HC Niumatalolo, the winningest coach in program history (109-83).

Dec 15, 2022

Bobby Petrino is exiting the HC gig at Missouri St and returning to 1a as offensive coordinator at UNLV(MWC) under new coach HC Barry Odom.

Dec 17, 2022

UAB 24 M-O 20. Correct on UAB , who tried hard to give the game to M_O. Two retired Super Bowl QBs were on the sidelines. Dilfer who's the incoming HC at UAB, and Big Ben, an alumnus of Miami(Ohio)

Troy 18 UTSA 12. Wrong on this one. The Trojans slowed down Harris.

Dec 18, 2022

Cincy D at least tried, the O vanished in Fenway. LOU 24 Cincy 7.  Fresno rolled Wazzo 29-6. Cougars were awful. I got those two wrong, but was correct on USM who road 329 yards rushing from Gore Jr to beat Rice 38-24.

Not usually a ton of news from Kent St, but its QB Schlee transferred to UCLA, and its HC Sean Lewis will become Colorado's OC for Neon Deion

O5 title games in 2022

 AAC: I'm tossing an imaginary coin on the UAB- Tulane game. Malazahn comes up with a trick play at the buzzer. UCF 23 Tulane 17.

CUSA- Frank Harris usually find a way to get the Roadrunners a W, plus they're at home in the AlamoDome. UTSA 27 NTX 23

MAC: Ohio replace it's injured QB Rourke last week and didn't miss a beat. Ohio 28 Toledo 20

MWC: Boise St is playing on its blue turf so I'll them to eke out a 21-20 win over Fresno St.

SunBelt- CCU got crushed by JMU last week and has been erratic all season. Troy 's solid D and home field will be the difference. Troy 20 CCU 17

Dec 3, 2022

Riding the Harris train pays dividends again. He threw for 341 yards and 4 TDs in the Roadrunners' victory. UTSA 48 NTX 27.

In AAC news: FAU hired Tom Herman, who made a pit stop with the Chicago Bears (2021)Offensive analyst after a rough, few seasons coaching the Texas Longhorns.

Dec 4, 2022

I was wrong on three(UCF,Ohio,Boise) of four yesterday: Tulane,Toledo, and Fresno were winners.  Man, that kid Spears(22 carries, 199 yards, 1TD) is something else for the Green Wave.

And, I guessed correctly on Troy, but it wasn't about their D. Troy 45 CCU 28.

Dec 5, 2022

North Texas fired coach Seth Littrell on Sunday, two days after the they lost in the CUSA championship game. He was 44-44 in seven seasons. 

Alex Golesh ( Tennessee offensive coordinator) takes over at USF, and Tim Beck (NC State OC) takes over at CCU.

I'm a bit stunned Cincinnati hired Louisville’s Scott Satterfield to be its next coach, and  coincidentally the Cards  will face Cincinnati  in the Fenway Bowl.

Dec 7, 2022

UNLV(MWC) is set to tap Arkansas DC Barry Odom to be their new head coach. He was Mizzou HC before that.

Countdown to less Independents - nearly over.

 Notre Dame may not ever give up its Independent football status, and it continues to keep Navy(AAC) on its schedule. They meet at M&T stadium in Baltimore City today. ND 30 Navy 20 in an old-fashioned rushing slugfest.

#Army travels to Bama to face a tough Troy(SunBelt) Defense.   Troy 19 Army 12

#Liberty crosses the Mason-Dixon line to face UConn. The Flames lost Dae Dae Hunter to injury last week but Freeze's O will be still be too much for Mora's Huskies. LU 31 UConn 17

UMass visits Ark St(SunBelt). Both teams are having bad season. Home team wins Ark St 20 UMass 17

New Mexico St host Lamar(1AA). NMST is eading to the CUSA while Lamar doesn't know what 1AA conference it wants to be in, (Southland or WAC). NMST 24 Lamar 13.

Nov 12  in the PM

Notre Dame allowed Navy to get damn close after controlling the game for three quarters. ND 35 Navy 32

Troy took its time but survived. Troy 10 Army 9

Liberty was missing some key players on O, and UConn upped its game. I'm still a bit surprised at the Huskies O, and it was my sole incorrect pick,.  UConn 36 LU 33 

Ark St  survived the Minutemen's late rush. Ark St 35 UMass 33

NMST 51 Lamar 14

Nov 18, 2022

UMass travels to TAMU. If the Minutemen prevail, the oil men will find a way to get Jimbo deported from the state of Texas

Mizzou will handle NMST, and BYU will take care of Utah Tech, formerly known as Dixie State before the woke crowd invaded Utah.

Don't look now but Mora's Huskies will beat Army to get UConn its 7th W.

Notre Dame should handle BC, but there have been some close ones in this series. BC lost to UConn and then beat NC St

Liberty lost to UConn last week and looks beat up. VA Tech hasn't won since mid-September and that continues. Flames flicker but hang on in a 20-17 squeaker.

Nov 20, 2022

Wrong on UConn who lost 34-17, and Liberty who lost 24-23.  I'm a bit surprised that BC got shutout. It was hilarious to see the TAMU twitter fans freaking out when the Ags were only up 10-3 on UMass at halftime. TAMU 20 UMass 3

Nov 22, 2022

Can Notre Dame keep playing the vampire? Their Ws over Clemson and UNC did some damage, but they don't have enough O to win against USC in LA. USC 31 ND 24. 

BYU gets back on track with a 23 17 win at Stanford. Army stops the Minutemen, and Liberty gets back on track hosting New Mexico St.

Nov 26, 2022

Liberty is losing to New Mexico St 42-7 in the 3Q. Freeze is staying in Falwell country and not headed to Auburn. NMST(5-6) scored 51 on Lamar and 45 on Hawaii, but never got above the 20s against any other opponent and are not bowl worthy. It doesn't look like NMST/SJST game will be made up next week.

Army crushed UMass and needs to beat Navy to get win number 6.

ND lost to USC

BYU saved face and beat Stanford.

Nov 28, 2022

  well I was wrong about Freeze- Auburn is hiring him.  The bad Liberty loss to NMST was irrelevant.

Dec 4, 2022

Liberty didn't waste time: Jamey Chadwell left Coastal Carolina for Falwell U.

Dec 6, 2022

Army plays Navy(AAC) in Philly this Saturday, and neither is headed to a Bowl game. My hunch: Navy 16 Army 13

New Mexico St will play Bowling Green(MAC) @ Ford Field in Quick Lane Bowl. Two very erratic teams. BG 23 NMST 20

Liberty will play Toledo(MAC) in the Boca Raton Bowl. Spark is out of the Flames with Freeze gone TOL 27 LIB 20

UConn in a Myrtle Beach Bowl game against Marshall(SunBelt). I'll take #herd -hoping Leborn plays. MAR 26 UConn 17

Dec 11. 2022

I was wrong on my final regular season pick. Army edged Navy in the 2nd OT : 20-17

Dec 19, 2022

I got home from work and the Herd was up 28-0 in the 3Q. A few minutes later and its 28-14. Ali/Laborn is a nice #herd RB combo. MU 28 UConn 14

Dec 21, 2022

I was correct on Toledo and the MAC went 2-0 yesterday. Flames flickered in the 2nd half, and Toledo RB, JACQUEZ STUART had solid game rushing for 111 yards on 23 carries. Toledo 19 Liberty 17

Dec 23, 2022

I saw the name Earl Weaver, the name of late Orioles baseball manager, and did a double take while reading the Chicago St basketball box score. This Weaver scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 55-53 loss to Minnesota of the Big 10. Chicago St has improved but won't survive as an Independent

Hartford, the other hoops Independent which is in the process of going to a lower division, got crushed by San Francisco 85-53 last night.

Dec 26, 2022

New Mexico St will play Bowling Green(MAC) @ Ford Field in Quick Lane Bowl. Two very erratic teams. BG 23 NMST 20

The Lou Holtz Bowl is in Jacksonville on Dec 30. Rattler will have a good day for the Gamecocks in 30 -27 win over Notre Dame.

Dec 27, 2022

Good thing my picks are made with Monopoly money. I was wrong on NMST(7-6) who led 14-0 at the half and held on for a 24-19 win over Bowling Green. The Ags started the season 0-4. Off to the CUSA for the 2023 season.

Dec 31, 2022

In a wild game, the Irish got the best of the Gamecocks and handed me another incorrect pick. ND 45 SCar  38

Jan 14, 2023

Are you kidding me? A committee will study the potential for football at Chicago State. The school can barely sustain its hoops 1A program after parting ways with the WAC and could not find a conference in the Midwest to join. Ain't no way they get 1A  FOOTBALL unless there is some billionaire alumnus out there. Maybe at a lower level, but that's still a he!! of a dream.

Jan 24, 2023

Wow, Wesley Cardet Jr. scored 21 points as Chicago State defeated Coastal Carolina(Sunbelt) 74-70 in a road win last night. I'm sticking to the Summit Conference as a possible landing place move for them.

Jan 26, 2023

Wow, Chicago St played well but fell short at Stanford(PAC12).  Cardet scored 31 in a 72-65 loss to the Cardinals. Yes, I know Stanford is having a bad season, but Chicago St struggled to beat anybody in the WAC last season, let alone anyone else.

Jan 31, 2023

Chicago St raids the The Citadel(Southern) and picks up another win in the state of South Carolina. Cardet Jr scored 21 points in the Cougars 76-75 win.

Feb 4, 2023

Rees to Bama to replace O'Brien. Is ND cheap or is he not working well with Freeman?  He turned down Brian Kelly's offer to go with him to LSU last year.

Feb 14, 2023

Neither Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig nor Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein are taking the ND OC gig. BTW, Ludwig's first stint at Utah as OC included the Utes' undefeated 2008 season and a Sugar Bowl win over Bama.

Feb 19, 2023

Since some may view this as a quirky blog: Chicago St(10-18) hosts Hartford(5-22) in hoops today.  Cougars won at Hartford on Feb 4. I think some Independents in football played home/away series in pigskin during one of the Covid seasons. Hartford is dropping to a lower division so this may be the last of this matchup. Chicago St is talking of adding football which is crazy. School needs to join the Summit conference and calm down.

J. Corbett CHST (23PTS 7REB)  CHST 75 HART 53 

May 15, 2023

While NMST mens' hoops remains a mess from various scandals, football HC Jerry Kill finally signed a contract, which calls for paving parking lot near the football offices. Ags are coming off a bowl win as they head for the CUSA.

I was looking at NM St 2023 schedule this season and it includes two MWC teams:

Sept. 16 NMSU at New Mexico(love the intrastate rivalry)

Sept. 23 NMSU at Hawaii

June 8, 2023

Kind of getting a chuckle from all the twitter kids promoting UConn to B12. UConn showed that re-connecting with the Big East and focusing on hoops and the northeast was the correct call. If it needs a conference for football, try the MAC. I never understood why it didn't remain in the AAC for football only like Navy does.

Chicago St remains a mystery, and there must be something amiss if the MEAC, a 1a hoops conference of schools with a majority of black students, nixed inviting Chicago St to join it. Possibly it was due to east coast schools not wanting to increase travel costs.

July 21, 2023

Down to four 1A Independent FOOTBALL SCHOOLS: Army ,Notre Dame, UConn, and UMass who visits Army.

Army will spend some time in Louisiana.

Sat. Sept. 2.      at Louisiana-Monroe

Sat. Sept. 9      DELAWARE STATE

Fri. Sept. 15     at UTSA

Sat. Sept. 23     at Syracuse 

Sat. Oct. 7        BOSTON COLLEGE

Sat. Oct. 14      TROY

Sat. Oct. 21       at LSU

Sat. Oct. 28      UMASS

Sat. Nov. 4        at Air Force*

Sat. Nov. 11     HOLY CROSS

Sat. Nov. 18     COASTAL CAROLINA

Sat. Dec. 9        NAVY^

July 29, 2023

I've been saying for years this kid Demario Douglas was a decent WR. Hear he's moving up BB's depth chart.  COLLEGE Liberty DRAFT INFO 2023: Rd 6, Pk 210 (NE) 

Aug 14, 2023

UMass guys in the NFL. I thought Isabella(Bills) might have staying power in the NFL, but did not see Merriweather(Saints) who carried the ball 150 times for 575 yards for the Minutemen in 2022, possibly making the NFL.

No invite to the Horizon for Chicago St hoops, but they secured commitments from Matt and Ryan Bewley, 5* recruits.

Previous blogs

 https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2021/01/1a-ncaa-independents-and-geography-2021.html  

https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2022/05/1a-independents-start-to-dwindle-in-2023.html

Top dogs in the 05 -week 10

 Ok, I covered the MAC so now I'll focus on conference leaders in the other four conferences.

AAC: Tulane may get a battle at Tulsa for a while, but Spears will rush for over 100 yards and keep the Green Wave undefeated in conference play. Tulane 34 Tulsa 24

CUSA: No team has slowed down UTSA(4-0 in CUSA) QB Frank Harris for long. UTSA 30 UAB 27

MWC:  Boise St  (5-0-MWC) plays an OOC game against BYU, who is desperate to beat someone. Taylon Green has been solid since becoming the starting QB. and I'd love to call this one a tie if they were still allowed.  BYU 26 Boise St 24 at the buzzer.

SunBelt: Coastal Carolina and Troy are each 4-1 and lead their respective divisions. Troy Trojans will march into ULL and come out with a 17-14 win with the help of a pick6.

CCU hosts App St and survives a scare 24-21. McCall looks solid again for the Chanticleers.

Nov 4, 2022

 Lot more points scored than I guessed in last night's CCU  35-28 win over Appy. McCall threw 2 TD passes and no picks.

Nov 5, 2022

5-0 for the weekend

Spears was a beast again for Tulane in a 27-13 win over Tulsa.

UTSA needed double OT to defeat UAB 44-38. Harris had another great game for the victors.

Hall to Nicau connection saved the day for BYU in a 35-28 win over Boise ST. 

Troy outscored ULL 16-0 in the 4Q for a 23-17 win.

Week 5 OOC with a dash of military style

 Navy(AAC) travels to Colorado to face Air Force(MWC). Navy beat ECU last week for its first win, but I don't they have enough offense to keep up with the AFA ground force led by Brad Roberts. AFA 31 Navy 23

Army(1-2) hosts Georgia St(0-4) this week in a series that started in 2019 and is tied at 1-1. Both teams have scored a lot of point this season but this one will be low scoring. Army 17 GA St(SunBelt) 16

MTSU, who is coming off a big win over Miami(FLA), hosts UTSA in a CUSA matchup that will likely feature an aerial show MTSU C. Cunningham (85-120, 1000 YDS, 7 TD, 3 INT) /UTSA F. Harris (104-154, 1310 YDS, 10 TD, 2 INT). MTSU 34 UTSA 31

I'm sure both Ohio and Kent St  are glad that P5 part of their schedules is in the rear-view mirror. I'll roll with K. Rourke (102-147, 1195 YDS, 9 TD, 2 INT) to lead the Bobcats to victory in a MAC matchup. Ohio 30 Kent St 20

Oct, 2, 2022

1-3 this week

Military defenses played better than I expected in the AFA 13 Navy 10 game. However, Army 's D couldn't stop T. Gregg (16 car, 124 yds, 1TD) GA ST 31 Army 14.

Harris threw for 414 yards and two TDs for UTSA in a 45-30 win over MTSU

Cooper rushed for 240 yards and Cephas caught 13 passes for 246 yards for Kent St in a 31-24 win over Ohio.

CUSA notes: Reed threw for 406 yards and 3 TDs but it wasn't enough to get WKU to a win over Troy. Troy 34 WKU 27.  How about some Rice news. Rice 28 UAB 24. The Owls stats weren't big, but Ari Broussard ran for two touchdowns, and Treshawn Chamberlain scored on a fumble return.

Week 3 O5: Hot or not

 I can't ignore three hot SunBelt schools, App St, Marshall, and Georgia Southern, this week. I think the trio may come out of the gate slow but get in gear by the second quarter of their respective games.

App St will get a big game out of running back C Peoples in a 30-19 home conference win over Troy.

Marshall will ride freshman phenom K. Laborn to a 31-16 win at Bowling Green(MAC).

Georgia Southern will have to slow down C Brown to pull out a close road win. GS 24 UAB(CUSA) 22

Air Force has relied on a strong running attack to get off to a 2-0 start but face a tough conference road game at Wyoming. Peasley will throw 3 TDS for the Cowboys and hand AFA a 27-24 loss.

I covered the AAC in a blog on ACC history and SMU losing a close one to MD(Big10)

Sept 17, 2022

Peasley only tossed one TD pass, but the Cowboys slowed down AFA in a 17-14 win.

Sept 18, 2022

The "Stun" belt had a few holes poked in it this weekend, on OOC play with Marshall falling in OT to BG and Georgia Southern getting handled by UAB which made me 2-2 in my picks. Laborn's fumble out of the end zone for a touchback was a killer for Marshall.

In other OOC play USA was held scoreless in the fourth quarter in a one-point loss to UCLA, Ark St fell to Memphis, ODU fell to UVA, SMU lost to MD, and ULL lost to Rice.

Rest of O5 play in Week 11

 AAC: In a  matchup  of two erratic squads ECU Pirates led by Ahlers will steal one on the road at Memphis by a score of 34-33.  H. Ahlers (181-298, 2180 YDS, 14 TD, 7 INT)  . Henigan (172-280, 2545 YDS, 18 TD, 5 INT).

CUSA:  WKU has been hot  and home-team Rice will hold them in check for awhile but fall 30-19. Check out these stats for the WKU QB B. Zappe (308-441, 3688 YDS, 37 TD, 6 INT)

MWC: Can San Diego St slow down Nevada QB Carson Strong (289-410, 3197 YDS, 25 TD)? Aztecs will do just enough in a 24-23 win

SunBelt: ULL is 6-0 in conference play, but Troy usually give them a hard time. Cajuns  strong rushing attack including its QB Lewis will wear down the Trojans and win 22 -20

So that ECU,WKU, SDST, and ULL this week.

Nov 14, 2021

4-4 for this weekend. Man, I got really close on SDST 24 Nevada 21 score/ prediction, and the fact the Aztecs survived Carson Strong NEV (34-48, 350 YDS, 3 TD).

ECU broke up a conversion pass in OT for a 30-29 win.

ULL outscored  Troy 21-8 in the second half  after tough 14-13 first half.

Bailey Zappe (34-42, 482 YDS, 5 TD)kept up his production for WKU in a 42-21 win over Rice, which game them a one game lead over Marshall in the CUSA East. Marshall came out flat and fell to UAB, who remained 1GB of undefeated UTSA in the CUSAW.

O5 conference play in week 7

Sunbelt:  If I had completed this blog earlier in the week, I would 've picked App St to beat ULL and been wrong.    Texas St Bobcats(2-3, 1-0 Sunbelt) 23  Troy Trojans(3-3, 1-1 Sunbelt) 20.Troy has played  better in OOC games but I'm sniffing upset here.

AAC: Cincinnati (5-0, 1-0 AAC)  30  UCF(3-2, 1-1 AAC) 19  Ridder rides on and won't be slowed down by Gus' Knights

CUSA: UTEP (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) 27 Louisiana Tech(2-3, 1-0 C-USA) 20. I'll take UTEP at home despite LA Tech hanging close in its three losses to Miss St, SMU, and NC St

MAC: Kent State(3-3, 2-0 MAC) 30 Western Michigan(4-2, 1-1 MAC) 27. In the QB battle, Crum will have a slightly better game than Eleby and get the W.

MWC: Nevada(4-1, 1-0 MWC) 39  Hawai'i (3-3, 1-1 MWC) 38 . Hawaii  will roll into Reno, NV feeling great after its upset of Fresno St but will lose a nailbiter in aerial duel  in which Strong edges Cordeiro.

Oct 17, 2021

Picks' review: Correct on Cincy, UTEP, and Nevada   Wrong on TX St, WMU

Sunbelt- K. Vidal (25 CAR, 162 YDS, 2 TD) was a big key for Troy plus the Trojans intercepted three of McBride's passes, one a pick 6 in the 4Q.

AAC- Cincy outplayed  UCF in every facet of the game for a 56-21 W

CUSA: Deion Hankins ran for two first-quarter touchdowns for UTEP earned in a 19-3 win

MAC: Eleby's passing and Tyler's rushing(169 yards) were major factors in the WMU's 64-31 blowout of Kent St.

MWC: Big game for Carson Strong NEV(34-54, 395 YDS, 2 TD) in a 34-17 win but quite a stat line Dae Dae Hunter HAW(8 CAR, 174 YDS, 2 TD), too.

I'm going to keep my eye on UL-Monroe of the SunBelt after they hung on to beat Liberty 31-28

Oct 18, 2021

AAC is raiding the CUSA as it moves away from the northeast to the southeast and southwest continues. AAC has plans to invite: Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB. Temple remain the most northern AAC city, 

These six teams won't improve the level of hoops play. I like the Charlotte/ECU  potential AAC rivalry.

Oct 23, 2021

 Sunbelt claims they have USM for 2023 and they're coming for Marshall, ODU, and James Madison (1AA)

O5 we got Thursday football Dec 10

 FAU was held to three points by Georgia Southern last week and will likely get enough O back against USM in Hattiesburg, MS for a 13-10 CUSA win tonight.

Will Houston have lift off after a four -week "break"? They'll shake off the rust for 24-23 AAC win over a Memphis team with suspect D. 

I'll take Ball State in a 27-25 win  over WMU in a battle  two 4-1 teams in MAC play. Plitt outguns Eleby.

Fresno St  lost to San Jose St last week and New Mexico upset Wyoming. Haener will throw two TD passes  to lead  Fresno to a 23-16 MWC win over UNM.

Troy hosts the undefeated Chanticleers and will be gunning for the upset but McCall and crew will get the job done. CCU 27 Troy 19 in Sunbelt action.

Dec 11

Off to another rough week of picks. USM 45 FAU 31 USM QB Trey Lowe threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and  his teammate Camron Harrell returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD. Also Gore Jr rushed for 111 yards and a TD. Golden Eagles fans have to be wondering where has this been all season?

dec 13

Two more incorrect picks , Houston, and Fresno St, before I get tot the correct ones, Ball St and CCU.

Tune, the Houston QB, and White , the Memphis QB , were about even in stats so it came down to a FG from Riley Patterson as time ran out to give Memphis a 30-27 win.

The Lobos ground attack, powered by  Bobby Cole who ran for 138 yards and three of the team's six rushing TD, rolled over the Bulldogs. New Mexico 49 Fresno St 39

A crazy final minute of play ended with Ball St winning 30-27 over WMU and earning a right to play Buffalo in the MAC title game. Plitt and Eleby  were about even in the QB stats.

Jaivon Heiligh caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from McCall with 45 seconds left to keep Coastal Carolina undefeated. CCU 42 Troy 38

dec 13  more news

Arkansas St  hired Butch Jones as its next football coach to replace former HC Blake Anderson who stepped down to take the vacant Utah State job.

jan 5, 2021 news

 It happened.  Doc Holliday 's contract was not extended at Marshall. His record there is  85-54 (55-30 in league play) with a CUSA title in 2014 and three division championships. 

 

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